U.K. Says Avoid Delhi on Rape Protests

Britain’s government is warning its citizens not to visit the center of Delhi due to the fear of protests over the death Saturday of a 23-year-old student who was gang raped last month.

On Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, protesters clashed with police in central Delhi, injuring 85 people, mainly demonstrators who were calling for tougher punishments for rapists.

After the woman died Saturday from organ failure in a Singapore hospital, Delhi police shut down the city center, fearing further unrest. There were demonstrations and candle-light vigils in her honor at the weekend and earlier this week – with tributes continuing – but they have been largely peaceful.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned citizens on its website to “avoid the city center until the situation becomes clearer and be careful to avoid any demonstrations, which could turn violent.”

The travel warning remains in place as of Wednesday afternoon.

The website of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi last weekend advised its citizens to avoid areas where protests were taking place but on Wednesday it noted that “large-scale demonstrations have ceased.”

The advice comes at a bad time for tourist shops in Delhi’s central areas. December is one of the busiest months for tourism to the capital due to the milder winter temperatures.

A spokesman for India’s Congress party, which heads the national coalition government and is in power in Delhi, said he was aware of the U.K.’s travel warning but declined to comment further.

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